GM is Weeping: BYD F3DM Plug-in Hybrid Goes On Sale in China, 3 Years Before Volt

Is the Future of Transportation Coming from China?We've been keeping track of BYD for many months now (see our previous articles on the BYD E6 electric car, and BYD F3DM and BYD F6DM plug-in hybrids), and we're not alone. Warren Buffet's MidAmerican Energy Holdings has bought a 10% stake in the Chinese firm for $230 million.

Plug-in Hybrid Car for $21.9kWhat's most impressive is that BYD didn't even make cars a few years ago. Until recently, it was only a battery maker (the biggest in China), yet it's F3DM plug-in hybrid is going on sale in China right now, at least 2 years before the GM Volt, another series hybrid. Read on for more details about the BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid.

BYD F3DM Technical SpecificationsThe BYD F3DM went on sale in China today for about 150,000 yuan (about US$21,900). BYD plans to bring the F3DM to the US in 2010, and will allow people in North-America to have a closer look at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show in January (I'll be there to check it out).

BYD says the F3DM has a range of 100 km (62 miles) on battery power alone with a top speed of 160 kph (99 mph). The 330V, 40 Ah Li-ion pack has life of more than 2,000 cycles, according to BYD Auto. On a household 220V power supply, a full recharge takes 8 to 9 hours.

BYD also says that the battery pack can achieve a 50% recharge in 10 minutes, though that might require more juice than a typical house power outlet can dish out. Still, this could mean that fast-recharge power stations could be a possibility.

Plug-in Hybrid Powertrain FlexibilityOne interesting feature of the drivetrain is its flexibility. It actually has three modes of operation:

Full battery-powered electric mode

Series-hybrid mode, in which an engine drives a generator to recharge the batteries, acting as a range-extender like in the Chevy Volt

Parallel hybrid mode, in which the engine and motor both provide propulsive power, like in the Toyota Prius

BYD says it wants to make all-electric vehicles in 2009 (the BYD E6 electric crossover, pictured above, has already been announced).